Boot or shoe and pull therefor.



W. P. HAMMOND.

BOOT 0R SHOE AND PULL THEREFOR. F

APPLICATION FILED 11111135, 1913.

1 ,07 1 ,005 Patented Aug. 19, 1913.

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ED STATE PATET QFFIC.

WILLIAI/I P. HAMMOND, OF CHARLESTC-WN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO CLARENCE H. YOUNG, OF DORCHESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

IBOOT OR SHOE AND PULL THEREFOR.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM P. HAM- MOND, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Charlestown, in the county of Suffolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Boots or Shoes and Pulls Therefor, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings'representing like parts.

This invention relates to boots or shoes and to pulls therefor.

Boots or shoes as commonly constructed heretofore have been provided with a strap of a length sufficient to form a substantially large loop through which the thumb or a finger of the user may be passed to obtain a firm pull upon the boot or shoe. These straps have heretofore commonly projected a very considerable distance above the upper edge of the boot or shoe when new, and after being worn, are frequently bent down upon the outside of the boot or shoe, and in either instance they are unsightly.

The present invention has for its object to provide boots or shoes with a grasp-inclosing pull-on device consisting of a single piece of material and preferably consisting of leather having an outer grain surface capable of receiving a finish rendering the device attractive in appearance. Preferably the device is positioned with its upper edge close to the shoe upper and is also preferably positioned in the rear of the boot or shoe in such manner that the device may be grasped between the thumb and fingers of the hand applied to the outer face of the said device and to the inner face of the shoe upper.

Other advantages of my invention will be set forth hereinafter.

Figure l of the drawing is a side elevation of a portion of a boot or shoe having my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the shoe shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the device as it appears prior to its application to the boot or shoe.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the shoe upper is represented at 1 and Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 5, 1913.

Patented Aug. 19,1913.

Serial No. 771,811.

the lining thereof at 2 in Fig. 3. The linmg and upper are secured together in any suitable manner as for example by stitching along their upper edges.

The pull-on device is composed of a single, integral piece 3, preferably ofsole leather and preferably having a grain face 4 which is continued throughout the entire length of the said piece. When the pull-on device is formed from leather it is preferably cut or skived to provide a lower, thickened, wedge-like portion or member 5 and an upwardly extending prolongation or con tinuation 6 which is of reduced thickness as illustrated, and hence is very flexible. As previously stated, the outer face both of the wedge shaped portion 5 and of the continuation 6 is preferably the grain face of the leather, the inner or opposite face of said parts or members being either the flesh face or a face formed from the interior structure of the leather. Preferably the upper edge 7 of the wedge shaped portion or member 5 is beveled or inclined in order to permit a tighter application of the continuation 6 when the device is applied to the boot or shoe. as hereinafter more fully pointedout.

I have found the wedge shaped form of the lower portion or member of the device to be eflicient but my invention is not limited to such form as other shapes may, in prac- I tice, be found satisfactory, and material other than sole leather may be employed although I have found the latter peculiarly adapted for the purpose.

By forming the pull-on device as a single, integral piece, and particularly when it is formed of sole leather, I not only am enabled to produce the device more inexpensively butsuch device is stronger than one having an applied securing piece. Moreover, I have found that the flesh face or interior structure of the leather, slightly roughened as it is, fits readily against the outer face of the shoe upper and conforms readily to the shape thereof. Furthermore, it is unnecessary to have a securing strip ex tending below the lower edge of the pull-on device at its outer face and hence the size of the shoe pull may be reduced. This is not only of importance in that a saving of leather or other material is effected, but also because the device extends to a less distance below the upper edge of the shoe upper and therefore is less liable to be visible in wear. l have also found that when the shoe pull is made of a single, integral piece such as example sole leather, it possesses greater inherent pliability or flexibility than would be the case if the device were provided with an applied strip by which it is secured to the shoe. In other words when the shoe pull is made of a single, unitary structure, its homogeneous nature provides a high degree of pliability or flexibility whereas if a separate securing strip be provided for the shoe pull, even though such strip be of the same or substantially the same material. as the shoe pull proper, yet the inherent pliability is largely detracted from and this particularly the case where cement or other adhesive is employed to secure the pull-on device proper and the strip together, as is necessary to prevent separation thereof in wear. Obviously, the extreme lower part of the thickened portion or member 5 is more pliable than the upper part thereof but said upper part is likewise of greater pliability and llexibility than would. be the case were a separate securing strip applied to the said shoe pull. Such separate device would in effect provide a stillening sheathing or coat ing. Therefore, the pull-0n device made in accordance with my invention does not stiflen the upper of the boot or shoe to an objectionable extent which is a matter of great in'iportiuice. l have also found that when the pull-on device is formed of a single, in-- tegral piece, and particularly when it is formed of sole leather, that it is of more homogeneous and even strength throughout and hence is not liable to become ruptured in use, l urthermore, when the continua tion 6 is mtegral with the thickened portion 5 it can be drawn more tightly into place without danger of separation therefrom.

ln applying the pull-on device to the shoe, the continuation (3 is preferably inserted be tween the lining 2 and the upper 1 as indicated in Fig. 3 and is there secured in any suitable manner as by a line of stitching S. ldy bevelii j the upper edge of the wedge shaped portion 5 l prevent any looping up or separating of the bent portion of the continuation 6 from said portion 5 as would be apt to be the case were the upper edge of the said thickened portion flat. The inner face of the said thickened portion 5 is applied llatwise against the outer face of the shoe upper and is secured in position in any suitable manner but preferably by a. row of stitching 9 near the lower edge of the de vice.

it will be observed that in the preferred manner of application of the shoe pull of my n "union to the boot or shoe that the said evi c terminates at its upper edge approximately flush with the upper edge of the shoe upper. Not only is this found to be efiicient in use but it adds to the appearance of the shoe.

1 t will be evident from the foregoing description that the boot or shoe upper is not rendered stiffer by the application thereto of the pull-on device herein described since the latter is inherently pliable. lvloreover, the device is of homogeneous strength so that there is little or no danger that it will be torn from the shoe in use and it can be tigl'itly applied to the shoe and will not become separated therefrom throughout any portion of its wearing.

Having thus described one type or embodiment of my invention, I desire it to be understood that although specific terms are em ployed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.

Claims:

1. The combination with the upper of a boot or shoe, of a one-piece, solid pull-on device having a thickened lower portion secured to the outer face of the shoe upper adjacent the upper edge of the latter and also having integral therewith a flexible continuation of reduced thickness extending to the inner face of the shoe upper and there secured.

2. The combination with the upper of a boot or shoe, of a one-piece, solid leather pull-on device having a thickened lower portion secured to the outer face of the shoe upper adjacent the upper edge of the latte and having an outer grain face, and also having integral therewith a flexible continuation of reduced thickness and provided with an outer grain face, said con tinuation extending to the inner face of the shoe upper and there secured.

3. The combination with the upper of a. boot 0r shoe, of a one-piece, solid pull-on device having a thickened lower downwardly tapering portion secured to the outer face of the shoe upper and provided with a beveled upper edge, said device also having integral therewith a flexible continuation of reduced thickness extending to the inner face of the shoe upper and there secured.

4t. As a new article of mamifacture, a pullon device for a boot or shoe consisting of a solid integral strip having a lower thickened end adapted to be secured to the outer surface of the shoe upper and having an upwardly extending llexible extension integral therewith, of reduced thickness adapted to be bent and secured to the inside of the shoe upper.

its an article of ma uufacture, a pull-on device for a boot or shoe consisting of a solid, integral strip having a thickened lower end adapted to be secured to the outer face of the shoe upper, said thickened end In testimony whereof, I have signed my being of substantially homogeneous strength name to this specification, in the presence of and pliabilit-y throughout, said device havtwo subscribing witnesses.

ing an upwardly extending extension in- WVILLIAM P. HAMMOND. 5 tegral therewith, of reduced thickness ada-pt- Witnesses:

ed to be bent over the upper edge of and IRVING A. TOWNSEND,

secured to the inside of the shoe upper. ROBERT H. KAMMLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

